2012 NBA Mock Draft: Early All-Rookie Team
A rookie needs the perfect storm to succeed.
The player can’t just be pro-ready. They must also be surrounded by talented teammates that allow them to play within a comfortable role. And in order to make the NBA’s All-Rookie team, playing well isn’t enough—it’s all about numbers.
Here is an updated 2012 first-round NBA mock draft highlighting the five players whose statistics will warrant All-Rookie honors in year one.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis (PF, Kentucky)
Davis is raw, but he’s so physically gifted that he’ll still make his presence felt from day one.
Last season, Jason Smith started at power forward for the Hornets. There isn’t a chance in the world Smith competes with Davis for the starting job. The Unibrow defines instant upgrade.
Expect Davis to finish among the league’s leaders in blocks as a rookie. He averaged an incredible 4.7 per game with the Wildcats. At 6’10” with a 7’4” wingspan and sky-high vertical, his length is a nightmare for opponents.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, Kentucky)
MKG isn’t a go-to guy on offense, so surrounded by next to nothing, he won’t put up big numbers as a rookie on the Bobcats.
3. Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal (SG, Florida)
According to Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated, Washington is interested in Thomas Robinson at No. 3, but with Andray Blatche, Kevin Seraphin, Jan Vesely and Trevor Booker creating a logjam at the position, they’d be nuts to select another 4. Beal is a much better fit with Jordan Crawford looking like nothing more than a role player off the bench.
Beal, like Davis, is raw, but because the Wizards are getting absolutely no scoring from the wings, he’d be called upon early to help John Wall carry the scoring load. And he’s perfectly capable of doing so and recording All-Rookie-worthy numbers. While he only averaged 14.8 point per game with the Gators, he has all the tools to be a stud at the next level.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andre Drummond (C, UConn)
Drummond is extremely raw and would be lucky to see major minutes early in his career.
5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson (PF, Kansas)
Robinson is as pro-ready as they come, but surrounded by shoot-first players like DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton, his offensive opportunities will be minimal.
6. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard (PG, Weber St.)
LaMarcus Aldridge is a superior complementary talent to any other lottery pick’s teammates. Lillard will benefit greatly playing alongside the star big man.
The Wildcat point guard is the most polished scorer in the class. Last season at Weber State, he averaged 24.5 points per game and shot 41 percent from downtown.
Lillard will provide an offensive spark like no other rookie. Expect him to not only make the All-Rookie First-Team, but to win Rookie of the Year.
7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes (SF, UNC)
Barnes should be comfortable playing alongside Stephen Curry and company, but not enough to distance himself from the rest of the class early.
8. Toronto Raptors: Dion Waiters (SG, Syracuse)
Waiters is a project that couldn’t even start on the Orange, so he won’t put up big numbers for a couple of years.
9. Detroit Pistons: Perry Jones (PF, Baylor)
Speaking of projects, Jones is the biggest one in the draft and isn’t likely to produce on a consistent basis as a rookie.
10. New Orleans Hornets: Jeremy Lamb (SG, UConn)
Whether the Eric Gordon re-signs or not, Lamb isn’t ready to carry any of the New Orleans scoring load.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Jared Sullinger (PF, Ohio St.)
There isn’t necessarily anything special about the Trail Blazers that they’d have two players voted onto the All-Rookie first team. It’s just that Sullinger is one of, if not the most pro-ready prospects in the class.
He averaged over 17 points and almost 10 boards per game during his two seasons with the Buckeyes. Sullinger’s potential is nothing to write home about, but his size at 6’9”, 265 pounds and skill set will allow him to have an instant impact in the pros.
And like Lillard, playing alongside LaMarcus Aldridge will free Sullinger up for more scoring opportunities.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Zeller (C, UNC)
Zeller’s length will earn him playing time on a short Bucks frontline, but he doesn’t have All-Rookie talent.
13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall (PG, UNC)
I wouldn’t expect Marshall to have the same success Steve Nash did with the Suns’ poor rotation.
14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones (PF, Kentucky)
Jones would be selected as Luis Scola’s successor, not instant replacement.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi St.)
Moultrie won’t get major minutes until Elton Brand’s time runs out in Philly.
16. Houston Rockets: Terrence Ross (SG, Washington)
Ross would be selected as Kevin Martin’s successor, not instant replacement.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Austin Rivers (SG, Duke)
Rivers possesses the skill set of a player half-a-dozen years older than him. He has range for days. His midrange jumper is silky smooth and his floater is lethal.
Doc’s son averaged 15.5 points per game with the Blue Devils without the least bit of frontcourt help. Dirk Nowitzki will create a few more opportunities for him than the Plumlee brothers did.
With Jason Terry headed to free agency, Rivers would step into the Mavs’ sixth-man role from day one. And considering that the Jet always put up big numbers, coming off the bench wouldn’t prohibit Rivers from earning All-Rookie honors.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Moe Harkless (SF, St. John’s)
Harkless will have the opportunity to produce right away with no wing talent on the T-Wolves, but he’ll never be a big numbers guy.
19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard (C, Illinois)
Even if Leonard starts from day one as Dwight Howard’s replacement, he’s too raw to help the Magic win.
20. Denver Nuggets: Tony Wroten Jr. (PG, Washington)
Wroten is a sleeper to sneak on to the All-Rookie team as his potential is through the roof and he’ll take Andre Miller’s minutes.
21. Boston Celtics: John Henson (PF, UNC)
Henson is way too raw and defensive-minded to earn first-team votes.
22. Boston Celtics: Quincy Miller (SF, Baylor)
Miller won’t get a ton of playing time early unless the Celtics trade Paul Pierce.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Andrew Nicholson (PF, St. Bonaventure)
Nicholson is another sleeper, but only if the Hawks trade Josh Smith well before the trade deadline.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Royce White (SF, Iowa St.)
I hate to say it again, but White is another sleeper because he’ll get playing time right away alongside Kyrie Irving, and at 6’8”, 240 pounds, he’s physically gifted enough to produce from day one.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Marquis Teague (PG, Kentucky)
Teague is raw, and he wouldn’t get a ton of minutes with O.J. Mayo’s ability to play both guard positions.
26. Indiana Pacers: Fab Melo (C, Syracuse)
Melo will be nothing but a designated defender off the bench as a rookie.
27. Miami Heat: Will Barton (SG, Memphis)
Expect Barton to produce as the Heat’s go-to guy on the second unit, but not enough for All-Rookie honors.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyshawn Taylor (PG, Kansas)
Taylor has incredible upside, but he’s erratic and will need a year or two to develop into a consistent producer.
29. Chicago Bulls: Evan Fournier (SG, France)
Fournier is a long-term solution at the 2, but he’d be lucky to see the court as a rookie.
30. Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green (SF, Michigan St.)
Green does all the little things right, and that doesn’t translate to awards that reward numbers.
David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.
